KABANATA 13

Kinuha ni Ethan ang kumot sa kaniyang kwarto at binalutan si Alpas na naka-upo sa sofa habang nanonood sa telebisyon. Kumuha siya ng towel at banayad niyang pinatuyo ang buhok ni Alpas.

Pagkatapos ay umupo ito sa tabi ni Alpas habang pinapatuyo ang sarili nitong buhok. Inirapan siya ni Alpas and lumayo ng kaunti sa kaniya.

Napatigil si Ethan sa pagkuskos sa kaniyang buhok at tumingin kay Alpas.

“Napano ka?” tatawa-tawang tinanong ni Ethan.

Hindi siya pinansin ni Alpas at pinagpatuloy lang ang panood ng telebisyon. Nilapitan siya ni Ethan at sinundot ang kanyang tagiliran.

“Ano ba!” naiinis na sabi ni Alpas at hinampas ng bahagya ang kamay ni Ethan.

“Nagtatampo ka ba?” tanong ni Ethan at pinigilan ang kaniyang tawa.

“Doon ka nga,” sabi ni Alpas.

“Sorry. Ano bang ginawa ko na ayaw mo?” tanong ni Ethan nang mahinahon.

Tinignan siya nang masama ni Alpas at hindi na mapigilan ni Ethan na matawa.

“Anong nakakatawa, Ethan?” tanong ni Alpas at bakas sa kaniyang boses ang pagka-irita.

“Ang cute pa lang magalit ni Sir Alvarez no?” sabi ni Ethan habang nakangiti.

Kumunot ang noo ni Alpas pero hindi niya mipigilan ang pamumula ng kaniyang mga pisngi. “Ethan!”

Tinaas ni Ethan ng kaunti ang kaniyang mga kamay habang tumatawa. Naiinis na hinila ni Alpas ang kanang kamay ni Ethan at kinagat niya ang kaniyang braso.

Natawa lalo si Ethan at hinigpitan ni Alpas ang pagka-kagat niya sa braso nito.

Alpas stopped when there's a metallic taste in his mouth. Nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata at dali-daling tumayo para kunin ang first-aid kit.

Ethan held Alpas’ hand and anxiously asked, “Saan ka pupunta? Sorry, I won't make fun of you anymore.”

Alpas eyes softened. “Kukunin ko lang yung first-aid kit.”

Ethan didn't let go his hand and he stood up. “Sama ako.”

Hindi na nagsalita si Alpas at sinama niya si Ethan sa kusina. He instructed Ethan to sit down on the chair. He then stood on his tiptoe and while opening the cupboard.

Ethan thought it was cute until the hem of Alpas’ shirt lifted, showing the dimples on his lower back. He gulped and looked away while trying to block his upcoming indecent thoughts.

“Bakit namumula ka? Masakit ba?” Alpas asked worriedly while placing the first aid kit on the table.

“Hmm,” sagot ni Ethan.

Alpas bit his lower lip guiltily. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine, love. No need to worry. Your bite won't make me mad... Unless if you're biting someone else. I would really get mad if something like happened,” Ethan said with a smile to reassure his uneasy mate.

“Shut up, stop talking nonsense,” Alpas said and he earned a chuckle from Ethan.

Alpas opened the first aid kit and he cleaned Ethan's bitten arm.

“Bakit ka nagtatampo kanina?” tanong ni Ethan habang nakangiti.

Hinipan ni Alpas ang nakagat niya kay Ethan habang hinahaplos ito gamit ang bulak na may antiseptic.

Naghintay si Ethan pero hindi siya sinagot ni Alpas. Sinarado ni Alpas ang first aid kit pagkatapos niya at binalik ito sa dating pwesto.

Hindi pa niya nasasarado ang cupboard ng yakapin siya ni Ethan mula sa likod.

“Tell me what's wrong,” bulong ni Ethan habang nilalanghap ang amoy ni Alpas na may dalang hipnotismo at kakaibang epekto sa kaniya.

“Why can you tease me but I can't tease you?” Alpas finally spoke and continued “Then you slapped me with your...”

Ethan was about to laugh but he restrained himself, he doesn't want to add fuel to the fire.

“Of course you can tease me, baby. But not that kind of tease, I can't afford to lose control and do something we would both regret, okay? As for slapping you with my...” Ethan paused with a chuckle and continued, “I’m sorry, okay? I could have shove it forcefully in your mouth but I didn't. I felt my restrain slowly slipping away from me, I'm sorry for slapping you with my—”

Alpas turned around to cover Ethan's mouth with his hand. His face was completely red.

“O-okay. Sorry din,” mahinang sabi ni Alpas.

Ethan removed Alpas' hand from his mouth and he intertwined their fingers. “You have all the right to sulk, so don't say sorry. Heck, if I lose control—it'll be my fault and not yours. Okay?”

Alpas felt warm all over and he leaned against Ethan. He knew that he was wrong as well that's why he said sorry.

Sumilay ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Ethan at pinalupot nito ang kaniyang isang braso sa bewang ni Alpas. He pulled his mate impossibly closer.

Ethan kissed Alpas on the top of his head and asked, “Anong gusto mong kainin for dinner, love?”

“Anything light. Nakadami na ako ng kain kanina sa bahay nila mama,” sagot ni Alpas.

Ethan chuckled. “Okay.”

Ethan patted Alpas’ bottom. “Go to the living room and wait for me,” bulong nito.

Alpas pursed his lips and he complied. Ethan shook his head with a smile and looked at the ingredients in the refrigerator.

“Love, magscramble nalang ako ng itlog ah?” sigaw ni Ethan mula sa kusina.

“Okay,” sabi ni Alpas.

After a few minutes, dinner is ready. Nagdala ng dalawang plato si Ethan papuntang sala.

“Dito nalang tayo kumain?” sabi ni Ethan.

“Oo, nadala mo na dito yung pagkain eh,” sagot ni Alpas.

“Ay oo nga po, no? My bad,” sabi ni Ethan habang natatawa.

Natawa nalang din si Alpas at kinuha ang platong inabot sa kanya ni Ethan. Ethan smiled and he leaned to kiss his mate's temple before sitting down.

“Nood tayo ng movie after neto?” iminungkahi ni Ethan.

“Okay,” maikling sagot ni Alpas.

“What are you up to these days habang wala ako?” tanong ni Ethan.

Nilunok ni Alpas ang pagkain na nasa kaniyang bibig bago sinabing, “Ginagawa ko yung portfolio ko.”

“Oh. Hindi ka man lang lumabas? Kanina lang?” tanong ni Ethan.

Tinignan ni Alpas si Ethan. “Hmm. Eh, ikaw anong ginawa mo sa B City?”

“Boxing, running, and most of the time, missing my mate,” sabi ni Ethan.

Natawa si Alpas. “Kalokohan. Kakornihan tigil-tigilan.”

Ethan smiled and shook his head before he continuing to eat.

“Siya nga pala, nagset yung class officers ng closing party. Swimming daw, overnight at sinasama nila ako para daw payagan yung iba,” saad ni Alpas.

Napataas ang isang kilay ni Ethan. “Kailan?”

“This monday. Exactly one week after the graduation,” sagot ni Alpas.

“Okay,” maikling sagot ni Ethan.

“So, punta tayo?” tanong ni Alpas.

“Sige lang. You don't really have to ask me, I'll go if you'll go,” Ethan said with a smile and he grabbed Alpas’ clear plate.

“I'll go wash the dishes while you choose the movie,” sabi ni Ethan bago pumunta sa kusina.

Nahirapan pumili ng papanoorin si Alpas. Pagdating talaga sa panonood ng pelikula ay hindi niya alam kung anong pipiliin niya kahit na maraming pagpipilian.

Pagbalik ni Ethan sa sala, hindi pa din nakapili si Alpas.

“Hindi ka pa nakapili?” tanong ni Ethan at umupo sa tabi ni Alpas.

Umiling si Alpas habang nakakagat siya sa kaniyang ibabang labi.

“Ano bang gusto mo? Romance? Thriller? Comedy?” tanong ni Ethan habang tinitignan ang telebisyon.

“Yun na nga eh, hindi ko alam anong gusto ko,” sabi ni Alpas.

“Magpindot ka na lang ng kahit ano,” iminungkani ni Ethan.

“Sabi mo ah,” sabi ni Alpas.

Tumawa si Ethan. “Sige lang.”

He pulled Alpas closer and he wrapped them both with a blanket. Alpas gladly rested his head on Ethan's shoulder and the movie started.

After a couple of minutes, Alpas is already sitting on Ethan's lap while peeking at the television. When the jump scare scene came, Alpas covered his head with the blanket.

Ethan chuckled. “We can just change the movie, if you're this scared.”

“S-sinong takot!” sabi ni Alpas.

He bravely peeked out from the blanket and he regretted it immediately. Ethan rubbed soothing circles on the other male's back.

Alpas covered his ears with his hands.

Ethan's heart tightened when he felt that his mate was genuinely scared. “Don’t peek anymore, you're already trembling,” he instructed softly.

Ever since Alpas was young, he was scared of ghost. His trauma came from a prank that his cousins thought was funny. They locked him up in the basement and the worst part was, the switch of the light was not inside the basement. They flicked the lights on and off playfully while making loud noises. Alpas imagined back then that there were creepy things in the basement with him, he cried and shouted while banging the door of the basement. His cousins stopped and let him go when they were scolded by the elders. He believed that is one of his weakness. That's why as he grows older, he practiced being alone without being scared until he can live on his own. As long as he avoids anything about ghost, he'll be fine.

Ethan pressed the exit button and chose another movie. He cradled Alpas in his arms.

Alpas removed his hands from his ears and he hugged Ethan's arm.

“It’s okay. Nalipat ko na,” sabi ni Ethan.

“How can you choose a horror movie without even noticing,” Ethan whispered softly while pressing Alpas’ head gently against his neck.

“Relax your body, baby. I got you.” Ethan whispered.

Alpas realized that he was so tensed and he slowly relaxed.

“Good. That's it. Take deep breaths,” Ethan instructed.

Alpas did and his body wasn't trembling so much anymore. He really felt grateful to have Ethan right now. The other guy doesn't have the slightest idea that he has a major effect on Alpas’ feelings.

“Thank you,” bulong ni Alpas.

Ethan just smiled reassuringly and he placed Alpas on the sofa.

Inayos niya ang kumot na nakabalot kay Alpas at tumayo para kumuha ng maiinom. Napatayo naman si Alpas at sinundan ito.

Ethan poured water in the glass and held it in front of Alpas’ mouth. Hinaplos nito ang likod ni Alpas habang umiiinom ito.

After a few minutes, Ethan turned to television off and they walked towards their room.

Ethan saw Alpas was hesitating and gave a way for him. “Your bedsheet is still dirty. Dito ka na lang matulog?”

Tumango si Alpas at nauna pa siyang pumasok sa kwarto niya. Natawa na lang si Ethan at sinundan si Alpas.

ㅡ to be continued.

Short announcement: starting next week, mag-uupdate ako every Wednesday at Saturday para naman may fixed sched 'to hahaha. Estimated chapters nito ay 30 chaps lang. So yeah, yun lang. Salamat! <3